Saturday Operational session on the VM & VC railroad

A friend of mine, Kevin Olson, was in town for the weekend.  Since I have been wanting to do a op. session on the layout, why not this weekend!  It's fun to operate alone, but in my opinion, having friend over to run trains and shoot the breeze is even better.  I spent a few hours yesterday afternoon, cleaning up the little mess from the On30 extension (have not finished yet),getting the switch list ready and staging the trains/cars.  We ran a total of 7 individual trains.  That's the most I have ever run on my small layout.   You have to have hidden staging on a layout that small to run that many.

Here are the highlights:

Kevin Olson gets his train ready VM100 to leave Battlefield Yard.  His cars for Fredericksburg Flats take up two tracks.

These sand hoppers are ready for the Virginia Central to pick them up.

The yard power switching some freight in the yard.  That's the On30 layout below.

Kevin's train, the VM100, heads by the VC engine house.  Power for today's train is rare, VM MP15DC #285 and a VM SW1500B #278 with 7 cars for the Fredericksburg Flats.  The trackage heading in to the wall is the hidden staging to Orange.

An RF&P GP40 #124 brings in a cut of cars for Battlefield Yard.  VM #281 rests the engine yard track.

VM GP11 #280 clears up for the incoming RF&P train.

The RF&P engine waits in track 5 for a empty stone train.  The VC has made an appearance and places it's caboose on the end of it's hopper cut.  They ran over to the yard caboose light.

VC #3 brings in 7 full sand hoppers into their trackage.

The rock train has came in from the Orange line and must run around it's train to get into Battlefield Yard.  CF7 #256 leads #292 as they prepare to leave the VM siding.

Kevin on the other hand, continues to switch the Fredericksburg Flats maze with it's many industries.  He will have to clear up occasionally for eastbound trains.  Today he doesn't have to worry about a westbound.

Here are some of the rock cars on VMW200.  The caboose is now at the front.  It's entering Battlefield Yard.

The RF&P leaves with it's empties to hidden staging.  The overpass hides the hidden staging "hole in the wall".  Those buildings are not intended to go there but they do look good on the bluff.

The Orange turn VM150 has run around it's train and heads to Battlefield Yard.  U23B #289 leads this 4 car train.

VM100 (Kevin's train) has finished it's work & prepares to leave the Flats and head to Battlefield Yard.  It's now lead by the B unit.  The VC yard is look crowded!

The VM100 power now leads the Orange turn.  VM150 is preparing to run around it's train to head west.

 We also switched out the VC line and I did not take any pics.  It's took us about 3 hours to do it all.  Not a bad day on the VM & VC railroad!